Back at HQ, Rachel authorized a new action.

She reached out to a former Phoenix ally now working with the Global Civil Rights Network.

“Get ready. Phoenix is about to go open-source. No control. No ego. Just evolution.”

Her contact replied:

“Then Sophie will become more than a founder.”

Rachel smiled.

“She already is.”

As Sophie and Alexander walked along the quiet riverbank, she stopped and faced him.

“If I do this… if we transition to LUX, there’s no going back. Phoenix as we know it dies.”

Alexander touched her hand.

“Then let it die. So something unbreakable can live.”

She breathed in deeply.

And exhaled.

Back at Phoenix, Camellia...